Squad Numbers mean nothing these days

Spot on post, I'm looking forward to next season.

Truth be known, I thought if anything we'd become a bit stale last season and yes admittedly a GF win might have changed my perception. Apart from shaking things up, lowering our squad average age we need to assess where we now stand as a club and be measured not only by our recent buying power.

Roll on 2014 let's get behind this squad, we will be in the mix surely.

I thought a lack of pace in attack last year was quite a weakness. I love Briers as much as anyone else, but I am enthusiastic about a quicker half-back pairing permed from Myler, Ratch and GOB. I suspect despite his number GOB will get plenty of opportunity to show what he can do. As for Russell, if he is young, has pace and a good attitude, I'm all for him being given his chance. To me if there is a question mark on a new signing it's what attitude Asotasi will bring with him and how he'll get on living and playing in England.

Also to add, I can see Grix becoming a real key player next year, he's been on the periphery too long.

Grix was a key player last year IMO, he was outstanding in every position he was asked to play.

Really looking forward to next year with a younger squad.

Particular exciting is the age of the key positions 1, 6 and 7. I know we've got two oldies at 9 but hopefully we should be able to replace them with Dwyer developing pretty well and the constant Daryl Clark rumours.


He never ever plays him for one thing. I've also heard it directly from someone who you'd regard as a bit of an iconic figure for us.

Russell is a prime candidate for who he'd be in front of. I know he's looked very promising for Scotland but he's been up against teams that would struggle in Super League and I'm being cautiously optimistic having learned from other 'hot prospects' who've failed to live up to the overhyping (see our no. 24). The thing that would swing it in GOB's favour for me though is I feel Ratch works a lot better at fullback than he does at 6.

I'm wondering if GOB's chance will ever come. As I mentioned before there will be no vacancies at 1, 6 or 7 for the foreseeable considering the ages of Russell, Ratch and Myler. As much as I like him I can't see him being at the club long term.

I believe in Tony as much as anyone though and more than trust him despite my dissent.

Ratch won't be fit for the opener apparently so whether TS does or doesn't trust GO'B to fit the bill he'll doubtless start the season at stand-off.

Tonga, Italy or the US would NOT struggle in SL. The sides are packed with NRL talent.

Russell will excel next season but he is a very different player to Hodgson or Ratchford.

The team will be greater than the sum of its parts as were Wigan last season.

...Oh and rumours will not go away about a signing still to be announced. We shall see.

I would expect Wire to make at least one more signing.

If you have a look at the strength in depth at Wigan then they will need to.

And these two teams don't include Hopkins who has signed from Leigh, although it is unsure if Lauaki will return.

Wigan A:

Bowen
Charnley Goulding Thornley Burgess
Green Smith
Taylor McIlorum Flower
Hansen Farrell
O'Loughlin

Powell Williams Greenwood Lauaki


Wigan B
Sarginson
Manfredi Hughes Gildart Gelling
Hampshire Powell
Pettybourne Tomkins Dudson
Burke Clubb
Bateman

Crosby Tierney Lloyd Lever

I'm pretty sure that as we stand now there is no planned signing to be announced. As of last Wednesday the club's planning for the season involved Lee Briers at number 6.

Warrington's recruitment plans are all pretty much long term and only when an opportunity such as Joel Monaghan comes up are short term plans made. There are no suitable half-backs on the market, it will be interesting to see who Hull end-up running with there after releasing Holdsworth and possibly Miller.

I'd imagine we're be keeping our powder dry seeing if anything arises although do wonder whether if we knew Briers was going we'd have rekindled our interest in Chase.

Warrington have 31 players on full-time contracts which is plenty enough. Balancing act is how you give players sufficient game-time to develop. With no over-age players at u19 level there are a lot of players listed above going out on dual-reg to South Wales playing pub-rugby plus Gelling and Lauaki (and possibly Pettybourne) only playing a couple of times in the season.

Six of those still qualify at U19 level. Some will be on dual reg at South Wales, some on loan Leigh., but you must admit it does look a strong squad. I have a sad feeling we won't see Lauaki back at Wigan.

No offence but I couldn't give a hoots about Wigan's squad and how strong a Wigan fan thinks it is!

Come on, read that again and see how daft it looks. Since when was 17 players enough to get through a season? Ratchford had been out of the top 17 numbers until now yet he seems to have played plenty of games! GOB will get his chance.

He's often been deputy for the ageing Hodge and Briers, I'm assuming barring injury Russell/Ratch/Myler won't have as many games out. Ratch can also cover centre (where Bridgey has been in patchy form/injured pretty much since Ratch arrived) whereas Gaz is limited to 6 and 7. He will play every now and again but there's no long term vacancy for him and he won't want to hang around being a backup for his whole career.

Disagree with putting Russell in at 1 instead of Ratch, and disagree with Ratch being put at 6 over GOB, further denting his confidence in my book. He's been here for about 3 years now and even with Briers gone he still can't get a break. Kev Penny is at 24, he has to work from the bottom, up, Russell should have to do the same. But I'll begrudgingly be proved wrong if it turns out to be the right decision, but we really do need to keep or cast out GOB.

I can understand how you feel about Ratch, but if you think about it, this has occurred because of the unplanned and sudden departure of Briers. TS has decided in the absence of a recruit, to plug the gap with Ratch and move Russel to FB. You would have to say that on current showing, Ratch could hardly be left out of the team at the expense of GOB, surely ? And the only other options for FB are Riley and Evans. I am a big supporter of the younger players but could certainly not argue against the logic of the current 24.

Meanwhile, the current first pick positions will only last for the first few matches. After that, form and injuries will dictate that the best man for the position will play there ( in key matches ). And I suspect that GOB will get a lengthy run at 6, because this will probably be his last season to demonstrate he has what it takes. That may or may not seem fair, but by the end of the season, the only thing occupying the minds of the coach and fans will be silverware. Any individual player will always be sacrificed for the benefit of the team.

Very well put. The squad numbers are an indication of the team TS would expect to play a game now with, if everyone was fit, and I wouldn't argue with them.

Rhys Evans will be an important squad member as there are few others who can cover the fullback, centre and wing positions. Hope he stays fit.

For most of last season, certainly from Magic Weekend on, our bench consisted of 8,9,10 plus ANOther.

Its a good young squad, if they click we could be a threat.

Wigan lost a load then somehow won the double with a weaker team so anything can happen.

After two Grand Final loses I think we needed a few new faces and a fresh start, be good if we could work the magic again and land a big signing.

I wouldn't exactly call 7 over 30s young.

I agree with the earlier comment about it being similar to Wigan this past season where others underestimate the team based on the players that have left. I'd assume there's still cap room for you to bring in a Full Back or Half Back. (Expect the Eastmond rumours to fly)

No Danny Bridge ??

TS was talking him up towards the back end of last season, anyone got any idea why he's not got a squad number?

I liked the look of him when he's played games for us.

No captain named as yet. I suspect that the club will go down the experienced route and pick a captain team such as Mickey Higham, Mick Monaghan & Trent Waterhouse.